Skokomish people facts for kids
The Skokomish are a Native American tribe. They are one of nine groups of the Twana people. The Skokomish live in western Washington State in the United States. Their home is along Hood Canal. This is a water inlet on the west side of the Kitsap Peninsula. It is also near the Puget Sound area.
Long ago, the Twana people were hunters, fishers, and gatherers. They moved around during warm months. In winter, they lived in more lasting homes. Today, the Skokomish people are part of the Skokomish Indian Tribe. This tribe is recognized by the government. Like many Native American groups in the Northwest, the Skokomish depend a lot on fishing.
What Does "Skokomish" Mean?
The name "Skokomish" comes from the Twana language. It means "river people." Or it can mean "people of the river." The Skokomish were one of the biggest Twana groups. This was before the 1860s.
There were nine main Twana village groups. These included the Dabop and Quilcene. Quilcene means "salt-water people." Other groups were the Dosewallips and Duckabush. The Hoodsport and Skokomish were also groups. There were also the Ctqwəlqweli, Tahuya, and Duhlelap communities. These nine groups had at least 33 smaller settlements.
Their Language
The Skokomish language is also called Twana. It belongs to the Coast Salish language family. This family includes many Native American languages.
Their Home: The Reservation
The Skokomish tribe moved to the Skokomish Indian Reservation around 1855. This reservation is in Mason County, Washington. It is close to the Olympic Peninsula. The reservation covers about 21 square kilometers (8 square miles). In the year 2000, about 730 people lived there. The main community on the reservation is Skokomish. Nearby towns are Union to the east and Hoodsport to the north.
